Understudy [ABO] [MxF] [18+]

F O U R T E E N ~ 1 8 +

***EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING: SEX***

"What the fuck."

Elias felt his heart jump into his throat at the sound of that voice and looked up to confirm his instincts. There she was, not just in his imagination, but there in the flesh wearing a tight black dress that only served to ignite his memory of that night even more vividly.

"Is this some kind of joke?" Allegra laughed and looked around the room. "Am I in the right room?"

"This is correct..." The man who had guided him in earlier looked between the two of them with a look of concern. "I can confirm this is indeed the man that your father informed me would be dining with you tonight, miss."

Elias jumped a little as Allegra's eyes returned to him, narrowed dangerously. Even from across the room, he could smell her. God, her scent. It had been tantalising before, but with the suppressant out of his system, it was like his nose had been congested before and he was only now realising what she really smelt like. That sweet honey smell coated him, spiced with cinnamon, but he quickly noted it was tainted by the hurt she was feeling. A great deal of it.

"It's fine, let's just get this over with. Get our meals out as soon as you can," Ally instructed the man, who quickly rushed off to make it happen. She eyed Elias again for a moment before walking over and taking a seat opposite him. He didn't even process that he should've gotten up until she was already settled.

"I..." He began, but realised he didn't know where he was going.

"I was only informed of this meeting this morning, and wasn't told anything about the person I was meeting with," Ally's voice was sharp, and her eyes didn't leave the glass of wine in front of her. "I can only assume you were in the same position, otherwise you wouldn't have come."

Wrong, he thought to himself, if I had known it was you, I would've been far more willing to come.

"We'll eat and spent the minimum time we need to here, and then we can both go," Ally continued. "Is that fine with you?"

Elias stared at her for a long moment, considering his options. Was it selfish of him to tell her that he couldn't stop thinking about her? That he didn't have a reason to not take a mate anymore, now that he was being taken out of the clinic anyway? That of all the people in the world he could choose from, he wanted her so much it was almost unbearable?

"That's fine."

Ally nodded and they sat in silence. Why did he say that? He was never normally such a coward, but the idea of her rejecting him hurt too much for it to become a reality. He was nearly overcome with guilt as he realised that hurt he was feeling didn't even compare to what he had inflicted on her that night. She had been told that they were fated and rejected almost within the same breath, by him, right after having sex. The more he thought about it, the more he came to accept he had behaved like an absolute ass that night and really didn't blame her for how she was acting.

Their food was brought out shortly, the restaurant owner not failing to meet Allegra's request for the night to be over as soon as it could. Ally began to eat silently while Elias just stared at his food, a million thoughts going through his head. He couldn't just let this evening end once they were done eating. He needed her. Even if she hated him, he realised, he couldn't let her go again. 

"Allegra, I---"

"Whatever sob story you're about to give me, I won't hear it."

Elias blinked in surprise and stared at her. She hadn't even looked up from her food.